Why was that and what support if any, did the U.S. lend the Taliban during their ascendancy?
Rashid: The U.S. had a number of reasons to support the Taliban. One was that the Taliban was vehemently anti-Iran and anti-Shia, and this was the time of the dual containment policy when the U.S. was trying to hold in Iran and Iraq. And the Taliban fitted the bill very well. Secondly, the Taliban was being supported by two U.S. allies in the region Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The third reason is that the U.S. wanted to build this pipeline. There was a lot of support from the Pentagon and the State Department for the Unocal effort. MM: Do any of the international oil companies have ongoing relationships with the Northern Alliance, the Taliban or any factions in Afghanistan? Rashid: No, I don t think so. After the Unocal experience, these oil companies have stayed clear. It s far too risky. The Unocal experience was very bitter. It fueled a lot of anti-oil company feeling in the U.S. and elsewhere. Secondly, I think the presence of bin Laden has made it far too risky for oil companies to
